Dual purpose shipping carton



May 30, 1961 K w. A. sc'HAlcH 2,986,321

DUAL PURPOSE SHIPPING CARTON med oct. 14, 1960 INVENTOR.-

/3 J fr THQ/IND and United States Patent O "ice DUAL PURPOSE SHIPPING CARTON Wilbur A. Schaich, Maumee, Ohio, assignor to Owens- Illinois 'Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 14, 1960, Ser. No..62,739

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-23) This invention relates to an improved' paperboard shipping container.

A very substantial portion of the vegetables and fruits grown for market are bulk-packed in thirty to forty pound containers and shipped to terminal markets where they are repacked in retail trade size bags and display boxes.

The present invention provides an adequate container for shipping fresh fruit or vegetables in bulk to the termnal markets, and, in addition, said container may be readily converted into -three cartons, substantially onethird the size of the original container, usable for delivering smaller quantities of the repacked items Without requiring any Iadditional cartons, equipment or tools of any kind.

Accordingly, the object of this invention is to provide an adequate shipping container for articles in bulk that is immediately reusable for reshipping smaller quantities of such articles.

A speciiic object is to providek a dual-use container, originally usable for bulk transport and conveniently convertible into three, smaller reshipping cartons without the use of tools, additional material or special equipment.

While dual purpose cartons have been previously known in the art, for instance as disclosed in U.S. Patent 2,936,239 granted W. C. yRendall on May 10, 1960, still none of them have embodied the improved features of cartons embodying this invention.

The specific nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantag thereof, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theannexed sheet of drawings, on which, by way of preferred example only, is illustrated an embodiment o-f this invention.

Figure l is a plan view of the blank used in making the top and bottom external units of the bulk shipper.

Figure 2 a plan view of the blank used to make the inner, tubular unit of the bulk shipper.

Figure 3 is an exploded isometric of the containers three units.

Figure 4 is an rassembly drawing partly torn away to show inner, telescoped, tubular unit.

Figure 5 is an isometric of either of the completed outer cartons of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an isometric of the completed inner carton of Figure 3.

ln the plan view of both blanks solid lines represent cut edges, long dashes represent scored lines, dots represent perforated lines, and stippled areas represent glue or other fastening means.

The blank 40 of Figure l is used to make the top and bottom cartons 40a and 40b of Figure 3. This rectangular blank is scored longitudinally at 2 to define the inner edges of pairs of vouter closure aps 5 and 6 and the adjoining outer edges of pairs of panels 7 and 8 of the side wall construction. A

Longitudinal score 3, which is parallel toscore 2, de-

fmes the opposite outer edges of pairs of panels 7 vand 8 Patented May 30, 1961 as well as the adjoining inner edges of pairs of undivided closure aps 9 and 10.

Slots 11 free the sides of the closure aps '5 and 6.

Vertical scores 1, lying in the same vertical plane as the slots 11, dene the corners formed when panels 7 and 8 are brought into their normal positions in the finished unit carton, while the perforated scores 4 lying in the same vertical plane as the scores 1 define the continuation of said corners formed when flaps 9 and 10 follow intotheir `normal positions in the unit carton.

These outer cartons are erected `as four-sided squarecornered tubes held together by flap 311, fastened on the outside of panelv7 by glue or staples so that it will not interfere internally during the subsequent carton assembly steps. This 'tube may be flattened for shipment to bulk filling area. When readied for bulk use, aps 6 of Figure 3 are folded inwardly meeting at a commencentral line 32 and their outer surfaces are glued or stapledto flaps 5 folded inwardly and meeting at a common central line 353'. Exactly the same procedure is followed to produce the carton 40b at bottom of Figure 3 which rests on a closured end formed as described immediately above.

The blank 50 of Figure 2. is also made into a foursided square-cornered tube Whose slightly narrower panels allow it to telescope inside the two end cartons previously described.

This rectangular blank is scored longitudinally at 12 to define the inner edges of pairs of top closure flaps 14 and 15 and the adjoining edges of pairs of panels 16 and 17 of the. side wall construction.

Longitudinal score 13- which is parallel toscore 12 defines the inner edges of pairs of bottom yilaps 158 and:v 19 and the opposite, adjoining edges of pairs of panels I6 and 17.

Verticalv score 27 and perforated scores 26 arid 28, lying in the same vertical plane define three of the corners formed when inner blank 50 is made into la squarecornered tube 50a of Figure 3. The fourth corner-is formed when three portion tabs 20, 22, 23- of Figure 2 extending the full length of the tube are-.glued or stapled internally to opposite free edges of panels 16, 14, andl', respectively. This arrangement prevents the tab"frm interfering when tube' 50a in Figure 3 is inserted intoopen end carton 40b until its lower edges 30` rest upon inner faces of the inner bottom pair of panels 6. 'Wliereupon the tube 50a is packed with tomatoes, or other vegetables or fruit. When this container is filled to whatever weight or level is required, the top outer carton 40a is slipped over top of tube 56a until its lower edges 34 meet the upper edges 35 of bottom closure carton as seen in Fig. 4. For shipment to repack-ing plant open edges Maud 35 are secured by any convenient means, such as glued tape 21, Figure 4.

At the terminal market or packaging plant, assembly means 21 is removed and top carton 40u is lifted off,

so that the contents may be removed for wasbingand sorting prior to being packed into smaller units forretail sale.

The tube 50a is removed from its now empty lower closure carton 40'b and converted -into a one-third volume reshipper by severing fthe flaps 18 and 19 of Figure@ along perforations 28 and folding them inwardly, overlapping inner bottom ilaps 19, gluing their exposedouter bottom portions and turning inwardly thereon bottom ilaps 18 until they adhere. The overlappingareaof panels `18 may be held in assembled relationshipA by stapling. Y M y n u If a neater base is desired glue tab portionf23canbe torn away atV perforations 2S and 37 yand removed where adhered to panel 18. vTo make'a' atter'topfseal ,glue tab portion 22 may be tornv away at perforations and removed by stripping its adhered area from panel 14. Glue tab will keep the carton in four square shape because it is still adhered to panel 16.

When this separated inner carton 50a is filled with the desired quantity of merchandise, flaps 14 and 15 are severed at perforations 26. Flaps 15 are then turned inwardly and their overlapping outer face area is Vcovered with glue and flaps 14 are turned inwardly thereon until they adhere, completing the one-third volume reshipper shown in Figure 6. Alternatively, staples or tape may be utilized to secure the flaps 14 and 15. The area where panels 14 overlap may be held in assembled relationship if so desired, or left unadhered to give retailer a hand hold for easy opening of the reshipper.

The two identical, outer cartons 40a and 40b which had one end closed in the bulk shipper can now be filled with the retail package units and made into one-third volume reshippers by first separating aps 9 and 10 along perforations 4. Then aps 9 are turned inwardly at score 3 and flaps 10 are folded over them along the same score 3, as seen in Figure 5. Areas where aps 10 overlap flaps 9 are available to means for holding them in assembled relationship.

Assuming that the original fully telescoped container carried forty-two pounds of merchandise, each of the three one-third volume cartons will reship approximately 14 pounds of the repacked fruit or vegetables.

It is particularly pointed out that close examination of Figure 3 reveals that when the two outer units 40a and 40b of the shipping container are telescoped over the inner unit 50a, its perforated scores 26 are in juxtaposed reinforcing relationship to the unperforated scores 1 of the top outer member. Similarly unperforated scores 1 of the bottom outer unit 40b are in juxtaposed, reinforcing relationship to the perforated scores 28 of the inner unit 50a. i Y

Additionally perforated scores 4 of both outer units are in juxtaposed, reinforcing relationship to unperforated scores 27 of the inner unit.

Thus, the perforated corner portions of each unit are reinforced and rigidized by the unperforated portions of the corners of the other units. This novel construction provides a fully telescoped threesome container, Whose rigidity and double construction permits stacking the loaded containers to greater heights in railroad cars, in trucks or in warehouses without damage to the lowermost containers, and without fear of their splitting or twisting out of shape.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that this invention meets the repackers problems of protecting and reshipping small amounts of packaged fruit or vegetables to the smaller retail stores by providing a cost-free carton to meet his smallest shipping unit need, since this invention permits him to safely and economically send out as little as one-third of the original contents.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be modified through a wide range without departing from the principle of this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container, demountable into three, separate cartons, and comprising two, outer, tubular cartons; each of said outer cartons having a plurality of side panels, hingedly connected in closed configuration, a first set of closure aps respectively attached to one end of said side panels and adapted to fold inwardly for closing one end of said outer carton and a peripheral score line traversing the medial portions of said side panels, whereby separa- `Vtion of said side panels along their hinged connections from the other end thereof to said score line produces a `'second set of closure flaps adapted for closing the other prising a plurality of side walls hingedly connected in a closed configuration, said inner carton having two spacedapart parallel, peripheral score lines traversing the medial portion thereof, whereby separation of said side walls along their hinged connections from their outer free edges to the nearest score line produces two sets ofclosure flaps adapted for respectively closing the opposite ends of said inner carton; said outer cartons and the inner carton being constructed and arranged so that one outer carton telcscopes over each end of the inner carton and the combined heights of the two outer cartons are substantially equal to the height of the inner carton, thereby producing a closed container whose side walls are of double thickness.

2. A container, demountable into three, separate cartons, and comprising two, outer, tubular cartons; each of said outer cartons having a plurality of side panels. hingedly connected in closed configuration, a first set of closure fiaps respectively attached to one end of said side panels and adapted to fold inwardly for closing one end of said outer carton and a peripheral score line traversing the medial portions of said side panels, whereby separation of said side panels along their hinged connections from the other end thereof to said score line produces a second set of closure flaps adapted for closing the other end of said outer carton; an inner carton having a tubular shape corresponding to that of said outer cartons, comprising a plurality of side walls hingedly connected in a closed configuration, said inner carton having two spacedapart parallel, peripheral score lines traversing the medial portion thereof, whereby separation of said side walls along their hinged connections from their outer free edges to the nearest score line produces two sets of closure flaps adapted for respectively closing the opposite ends of said inner carton; said outer cartons and the inner carton being constructed and arranged so that one outer carton telescopes over each end of the inner carton and the frcc edges of the two outer cartons are in abutment.

3. A container assembled from three tubular cartons, two of said cartons, when erected, occupying positions telescopically external to the third erected inner carton, and respectively formed from three one-piece blanks; each of said blanks used for forming the two outer cartons having two longitudinal edges and two lateral edges perpendicular to said longitudinal edges, two spacedapart longitudinal score lines parallel to and intermediate said longitudinal edges and extending the full length of the blank, said score lines defining a medial area intermediate thereof and a closure area at each side of the blank, a series of slots, normally perpendicular to and extending from one score line to the nearest free longitudinal edge, closure flaps separated by said slots and adapted to fold inwardly along said score line for closing that end of said outer carton, a set of lateral score lines respectively extending from the inner ends of said slots, and continuing to the opposite longitudinal edge, thereby Vdividing said medial area into a plurality of panels, and said other closure area into undivided closure flaps, each at, outer blank being foldable along said lateral set of score lines into a four-cornered tubular arrangement; means for securing said blank in said tubular arrangement, said folded corners and said panels being constructed and arranged 'so that said tubular shaped outer cartons may be collapsed for shipment or said slot-separated closure flaps may be folded inwardly and adhered, whereby a closed-at-oneend bottom outer carton and a closed-at-one-end top outer carton are created; said third blank having two longitudinal edges and two lateral edges perpendicular to said longitudinal edges, two spaced-apart score lines parallel to and intermediate said longitudinal edges and extending the full length of the blank, said score lines enclosing a medial area and defining closure areas at each side of said blank, a set of lateral score lines parallel to and intermediate said lateral edges and extending the full width of the blank, said lateral set of score lines dividing 'said'cll sure areas at opposite ends of said inner blank into respective sets of undivided, end closure ilaps and a glue tab, the sets of undivided closure flaps at each end of inner tubular carton being adapted for separation along said folded score lines into two sets of inwardly folding closure flaps for closing both ends of said inner carton; said third blank being foldable along said lateral set of score lines into tubular arrangement, so that said glue tab may be folded over its score line and adhered to the adjacent edge of said medial area to assure retention of said tubular shape; said tubular shaped, inner carton being constructed and arranged that it may be collapsed for shipment or telescopically inserted into said closed-at-one-end bottom outer carton, then iilled with bulk shipment and telescopically covered by said closed-atoneend top outer carton; the combined heights of the two outer cartons being substantially equal to the height of the inner carton, thereby producing a closed container whose side walls are of double thickness.

4. A container assembled from three tubular cartons. two of said cartons, when erected, occupying positions telescopically external to the third erected inner carton, and respectively formed from three one-piece blanks; each of said blanks used for forming the two outer cartons having two longitudinal edges and two lateral edges perpendicular to said longitudinal edges, two spaced-apart longitudinal score lines parallel to and intermediate said longitudinal edges and extending the full length of the blank, said score lines defining a medial area intermediate thereof and a closure area at each side of the blank, a series of slots, normally perpendicular to and extending from one score line to the nearest free longitudinal edge, closure aps separated by said slots and adapted to fold inwardly along said score line for closing that end of said outer carton, a set of lateral score lines respectively extending from the inner ends of said slots and continuing to the opposite longitudinal edge, thereby dividing said medial area into a plurality of panels and said other closure area into undivided closure aps, each at, outer blank being Ifoldable along said lateral set of score lines into a four- 6 l i cornered tubular arrangement; means for securing said blank in said tubular arrangement, said folded corners and said panels being constructed and arranged so that said tubular shaped outer cartons may be collapsed for shipment or said slot-separated closure aps may be folded inwardly and adhered, whereby a closed-at-oneend bottom outer carton and a closed-at-one-end top outer carton are created; said third blank having two longitudinal edges and two lateral edges perpendicular to said longitudinal edges, two spaced-apart score lines parallel to and intermediate said longitudinal edges and extending the full length of the blank, said score lines enclosing al medial area and defining closure areas at each side ofthe blank, a set of lateral score lines parallel to and nterrnediate said lateral edges and extending the full width of the blank, said lateral set of score lines dividing said closure areas at opposite ends of said inner blank into respective sets of undivided, end closure flaps and a glue tab, the sets of undivided closure flaps at each end of inner tubular carton being adapted for separation along said folded score lines into two sets of inwardly folding closure ilaps for closing both ends of said inner carton; said third blank being foldable along said lateral set of score lines into tubular arrangement, so that said glue tab may be folded over its score line and adhered to the adjacent panel to assure retention of said tubular shape; said tubular shaped inner carton being constructed and arranged that it may be collapsed for shipment or telescopically inserted into said closed-at-one-end bottom outer carton, then lled with bulk shipment and telescopically covered by said closed-at-one-end top outer carton; the free edges of the two outer cartons being in abutment.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,936,239 Rendall May 10, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 691,436 Great Britain May 13, 

